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From Russia, with love – growlers full of local beer

In Federal Way, 99 Bottles (blog sponsor) is about to take full advantage of a recent change to state law. Beginning Tuesday, August 23rd the bottleshop will offer customers growler fills of fresh craft beer. To insure that customers get a fresh, delicious, properly poured growler of beer, 99 Bottles will use an innovative device manufactured by a Russian company: the PEGAS CraftTap dispenser.

Some bottleshops have already begun filling growlers. For instance, Norm’s Market in Lake Stevens currently has 12 rotating taps. A few weeks ago, when the legislation became law, Norm’s held a Growler Launch Party. They filled more than 200 growlers in less than five hours.

That’s a lot of beer.

It would seem the beer-loving public is ready to embrace this change. See our previous post about the new law and how it impacts your ability to drink locally brewed craft beer.

Below I’ve posted the complete press release from 99 Bottles. Also, I’ve posted the official PEGAS CraftTap video because it reminds me of something we would have watched in elementary school, except that it’s about beer. Kidding aside, this looks like a very smart way to fill growlers. See the CraftTap in action starting next Tuesday at 99 Bottles.

August 16, 2011, FEDERAL WAY, WA— Craft taps for growler fills are coming to 99 Bottles. Thanks to the legislative action of House Bill 1465, Specialty Beer and/or Wine Stores in Washington State , like 99 Bottles, can expand their offerings to include growlers of craft from draft.

Growlers are containers that are filled at the business location from beer kegs, capped and sealed for at-home serving. Growlers allow retail stores to represent breweries that don’t have bottling capabilities.

“There are nearly 150 breweries in Washington State and less than 30 of those breweries bottle,” says Tiffany Adamowski, co-owner of 99 Bottles. “With only 20% of local beer available in bottles means drinking out to enjoy favorites. But with the ability to offer growler fills favorite local beers, such as Mac & Jack’s African Amber and Georgetown Manny’s Pale Ale, are now available for at-home enjoyment.”

“With thanks to our state legislature,” Adamowski says, “we’re finally able to reach our original dream for 99 Bottles! That is, a beer store surrounded by a community of wonderful beer lovers, supporting breweries by carrying their complete product families whenever possible, and offering beers to-go in bottles, cans and growlers.”

Beginning Tuesday, August 23, 99 Bottles will be allowing you to explore craft on draft, offering up to eight different beers for growler fills. The beers available for growler fills will change after each keg is emptied; freshly tapped kegs will be tweeted from @99bottlesontap.

The quality-conscious bottle shop will focus on fresh beer. 99 Bottles will use the PEGAS CrafTap™ system to preserve beer life. “Our fillers saturate the inside of the growler with CO2, preventing loss of carbonation, so sealed growlers are viable for three weeks or longer,” says Adamowski. Her husband and partner, Craig Adamowski, adds, “The system reduces the amount of foam, allowing us to focus on beer fills, rather than product waste. It’s quite cost efficient for us and the customer.”

To get fresh craft from tap at 99 Bottles, containers must be clean, dry 32- or 64-ounce glass growler of standard size. Should yours not meet these sanitary requirements, you can buy a growler at the store.

“We look out for our customers. In compliance with the ‘No Open Containers’ law, we’re taking things a step further,” says Ms. Adamowski, “99 Bottles seals every filled growler so there’s no need to worry about transporting the beer home. With the safety seal, you’re all ready for at-home enjoyment.”

Note: This is a seattlepi.com reader blog. It is not written or edited by the P-I. The authors are solely responsible for content. E-mail us at newmedia@seattlepi.com if you consider a post inappropriate..